There is something refreshingly lived-in about Lila Forde’s Life Can Still Be Sweet. Her sophomore album does not try to package growing up into a neat story. Instead, it makes room for the awkwardness, excitement, heartbreak, humor and uncertainty that come with figuring out who you are.
Forde, a Seattle-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter with roots in jazz, soul, folk and classic American songwriting, brings all of those influences into a record that feels both timeless and distinctly personal. The songs move between soulful grooves, country-tinged warmth, jazz phrasing, three-part harmonies, Hammond organ, guitars and synths, giving the album a rich musical identity without ever overwhelming the stories at its center.
The album’s title offers the clearest window into Forde’s perspective. Life Can Still Be Sweet acknowledges that life can be difficult without allowing difficulty to become the entire story. Across the record, heartbreak, friendship breakups, family illness, romantic uncertainty and the everyday frustrations of sharing a home exist alongside pleasure, humor, desire and connection.
That balance is particularly effective on the title track. Forde began writing the song while spending long stretches in hotel rooms during The Voice, feeling creatively worn down and disconnected from her normal life. The resulting song became something larger than that particular moment, reflecting the strange, exciting process of being in your twenties and slowly figuring out who you are.
Family brings another emotional dimension to the record. “Molly,” written for Forde’s mother, is one of the album’s most affecting songs. Her mother’s Parkinson’s diagnosis changed the family’s reality, but also deepened the meaning behind the album’s title. The song does not simply dwell on illness. Instead, it reflects the complicated love of watching someone you admire navigate a life that has changed.
Elsewhere, Forde lets herself have fun. “No Space” turns the claustrophobia of living with roommates into a catchy, twangy song about one of those very specific situations that can somehow become a universal experience. “Do It All Over,” written with Marcel Camargo and Joey Dosik, brings a breezy, sun-soaked energy to the album, capturing the desire to hold onto a perfect day with friends, music and someone you love.
“Fantasies” explores the difference between wanting someone and wanting the version of them that exists inside your imagination, while “Wildflowers” looks at the painful moment when something that once felt right suddenly reveals itself as finished. Together, the songs show Forde’s ability to turn very personal experiences into observations that feel recognizable without becoming generic.
Forde’s ownership of the album is also significant. Although she worked with a wide group of collaborators and musicians, Life Can Still Be Sweet remains unmistakably hers. The record was produced by Forde, and she describes herself as the person ultimately responsible for bringing all of its pieces together. That sense of authorship comes through in the album’s cohesion.
Forde describes the album herself with an honesty that captures what makes it so appealing:
“It is with immense pride and gratitude, I give you ‘Life Can Still Be Sweet’ my sophomore record, out everywhere today.
This collection of songs chronicles the adventures, challenges and wonder of a girl as she becomes a woman. There’s heartbreak, lust, roommate drama, a parent getting sick, friend breakups, breakup breakups, three part harmony, Wurlitzer, Hammond B3, guitars, synths, drum machines, a lot of heart and soul, a little twang to make the soup just right.
I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love in this lifetime. There is no greater joy. Thank you God!!!! and thank YOU for supporting me!
I’m in tears and disbelief this record is finally out. It feels like a true representation of who I am as an artist and a person right at this moment, and that feels special. Thank you for listening, I hope it makes you feel something ❤️
-Lila”
That last sentiment is perhaps the best description of the album. Life Can Still Be Sweet is not interested in pretending everything is easy. It simply refuses to overlook the good things that exist alongside the difficult ones.
For Forde, this is a record about becoming. It captures a particular period of life before it disappears, preserving the friendships, mistakes, romances, family moments and small pleasures that shape a person along the way. The result is a warm and deeply human sophomore album from an artist who sounds increasingly comfortable trusting her own voice.
